HELICOBACTER PYLORI: THE “CULPRIT” OF GASTRIC DISEASES

25/06/2020

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that lives and grows in the stomach. The germs can be spread from person to person through direct contact with saliva.

Most people with H. pylori infection have no prominent symptoms. However, H. pylori can cause digestive problems such as chronic gastritis, stomach ulcers, or even stomach cancer.

Common symptoms of H. pylori infection:

Pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen
Flatulence
Feeling full after eating a small amount of food
Loss of appetite
Nausea or vomiting
Black or tarry stool.

How H. pylori infection is diagnosed:

Breath test
Stool test
Blood test.

Who should get tested for H. pylori infection?

Those having peptic ulcer disease (PUD) or a medical history of the disease (unless previous treatment of H. pylori infection has been reported), having mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, or having a history of undergoing Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) or Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) for early gastric cancer.
For those under 60 years old who have indigestion with no alarm signs and have not received treatment, non-endoscopic test for H. pylori infection is essential. When performing endoscopy in these patients, a biopsy should be taken to assess the possibility of H. pylori infection.
Those with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) but without a history of PUD do not need to be tested for H. pylori infection. For those patients who have been tested and found to be infected with H. pylori, a proper treatment plan should be given even though potential effects on GERD symptoms are unpredictable.
For patients on long-term use of low-dose aspirin, testing for H. pylori infection may be considered to reduce the risk of bleeding ulcer.
Patients who are about to receive treatment for chronic diseases by using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) should be tested for H. pylori infection.
Those with iron deficiency (ID) anemia despite already having appropriate evaluation.
Adults with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

At American International Hospital (AIH), Gastroenterology - Hepatology Department offers a full range of testing, diagnosis and treatment services for gastrointestinal diseases.

A team of highly skilled and experienced gastroenterologists focuses on giving patients accurate diagnosis and right treatment as soon as possible on a case-by-case basis.
The gastrointestinal endoscopy room is well equipped with state-of-the-art facilities under American standards.

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